Hotel Jarry Confort - Paris, France     

Good things: Location - right next to the main train stations and a good metro & there are lots of stores around to buy drinks and snacks from on your way out. It's also in a really culturally diverse area where no tourists go (except for the cheap hotels), so lots of good Indian, Asian and African restaurants, but you might feel like you stick out like a sore thumb. Another plus point was that the staff were friendly, though communication was (naturally) sometimes difficult when they couldn't speak English. Not so good things: No toilets in our rooms. We had assumed there would be since we booked rooms with showers, but no - there were just showers & sinks. The toilets are in TINY closets in the halls, and you have to go back to your room to wash your hands (bring your own soap). One of our rooms only had 1 pillow to share between 2, and I had to go in search of more, as the man in reception didn't speak English. Also, on the subject of pillows, my pillow had blood on it - very strange. This made me doubt the cleanliness of the entire place. Also odd was that half the lights in our room didn't work. I don't think I'll stay here again, but didn't have a terrible time.

My 15 year old daughter and I stayed at the Hotel Jarry for 4 nights, the last hotel after 5 weeks in Italy and France while staying in guesthomes, hotels, and hostels. The good: price, 24 hour front desk, cleanliness. Rooms are small but clean, and the location is outstanding, very close to Gare du Nord and Gare de L'Oest. Breakfast is extra, but good value. The bad: the neighborhood is a bit scary, although the location is excellent. The ugly: stairs, stairs, and more stairs, as many as 6 stories, in a difficult, tight, circular staircase. No lift. Also, although the WC was on the same floor, the shower was two stories down. The best breakfast for the best price is in Gare de L'Oest . If you stay there be sure to go to the very local Cafe Motown around the corner and order the seabass.